Crystal Ridge Distillery
Overview of the Distillery
Crystal Ridge Distillery is centrally located in Hot Springs, Arkansas, and combines seven generations of Bradley family craftsmanship with an active distillery and a tasting room open to the public. The place is known for 14 small-batch moonshine flavors, a 10x-distilled Arkansas Vodka, and The Pack — ready-to-drink vodka cocktails in cans. Visitors can take a free tour, sampling the products for a fee, and purchase bottles directly in their historic F.C. Stearns building.
History
The Bradley family is highlighted as foundational to Crystal Ridge's identity; the website points to seven generations of craftsmanship and a total history of around 230 years. The distillery is housed in the historic F.C. Stearns Warehouse, a brick building from roughly 1910–1920, where original architectural details are still visible. Today Crystal Ridge is recognized as the first legal distillery in Hot Springs and has made the family's private distilling traditions publicly accessible through tours, tastings, and a local distribution network. The building houses both the production line and tasting area, so guests can see from mash to bottle.
Raw Materials and Production
Moonshine production begins with ground grain, purchased from a supplier in North Texas. The grain is milled and mixed with Hot Springs water to form a mash, which is fermented over several days with the addition of yeast; the result is a 'distiller's beer', ready for distillation. Distillation takes place in copper stills, the most visible of which is a 250-gallon copper-and-wood still called 'Patrick'. During distillation, careful cuts are made between heads, hearts, and tails to keep only the 'heart'. The vodka undergoes a proprietary 10-step/10x distillation to remove impurities and achieve extra purity. After distillation, the product is proofed and, in the case of moonshine, flavored before bottling; the bottles pass through an automated filling system in the historic warehouse building.
Maturation and Barrel Types
No wooden barrel aging is mentioned as part of standard production; the focus is instead on distillation purity and subsequent flavoring for moonshine as well as extensive purification (10x) for the vodka. Production and bottling take place in the historic F.C. Stearns building, where an automated production line handles the bottle flow.
Whiskies
The lineup centers on three clear pillars: small-batch moonshine in around 14 flavors (including Apple Pie, Peach, Maple Bacon, and Peanut Butter, as well as a high-proof unflavored Mule Kick), a core vodka line (Arkansas Vodka, distilled ten times and bottled at 80 proof/40% ABV), and The Pack — a line of RTD vodka cocktails in 12 oz cans. The Pack offerings include several cocktail concepts such as Arkansas Mule, Razorberry Splash, Watermelon Wave, Piña Colada, and Black Cherry. The products are sold at the distillery and through select retailers in Arkansas.
| Whiskey | Type / Series | Alcohol | Flavor Profile | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arkansas Vodka | Vodka | 40 % | Arkansas Vodka is distilled ten times in a proprietary process and filtered with Hot Springs water to achieve high purity. Served in 750 ml bottles as 80 proof (40% ABV). | Current; Core range; Sold at the distillery and through select retailers in Arkansas |
| Crystal Ridge Moonshine (generic range) | Moonshine | The range includes 14 small-batch moonshine flavors. The base spirit is distilled in 'Patrick' and proofed before flavoring; most flavors are bottled around 70 proof. Mule Kick is an unflavored version at 120 proof. | Current; Core range; Sold at the distillery and through select retailers in Arkansas | |
| Mule Kick | Moonshine (unflavored high-proof); Moonshine | Unflavored moonshine released as 'Mule Kick' and bottled at 120 proof. Marketed as a higher-alcohol base spirit in the range. | Current; Sold at the distillery and through select retailers in Arkansas | |
| Apple Pie (Moonshine) | Flavored moonshine | One of several flavored moonshines in the range; flavor development is adjusted to the clean base spirit for balance between spirit and flavor. | Current; Core range; Sold at the distillery and through select retailers in Arkansas | |
| Peach (Moonshine) | Flavored moonshine | Peach is noted among classic flavors in the moonshine lineup and is included in the distillery's rotating assortment of 14 variants. | Current; Core range; Sold at the distillery and through select retailers in Arkansas | |
| Maple Bacon (Moonshine) | Flavored moonshine | One of the more characterful moonshine offerings, noted as an example of flavor development in the range. | Current; Core range; Sold at the distillery and through select retailers in Arkansas | |
| Peanut Butter (Moonshine) | Flavored moonshine | One of the more original flavors in the moonshine lineup and noted as an example of the distillery's broad flavor palette. | Current; Core range; Sold at the distillery and through select retailers in Arkansas | |
| The Pack — Arkansas Mule (RTD) | RTD vodka cocktail | 9 % | A can-based Moscow Mule built on Crystal Ridge Arkansas Vodka (10x distillation). 9% ABV, 12 oz (355 ml) can. | Current; Core range; Available in select stores in Arkansas and at the distillery |
| The Pack — Razorberry Splash (RTD) | RTD vodka cocktail | 9 % | Berry blend RTD (raspberry/blackberry/mulberry blend described as state-tailored flavor). 9% ABV, 12 oz can, built on 10x-distilled vodka. | Current; Core range; Available in select stores in Arkansas and at the distillery |
| The Pack — Watermelon Wave (RTD) | RTD vodka cocktail | 9 % | Summer-y watermelon RTD built on 10x-distilled Arkansas Vodka. 9% ABV, 12 oz can. | Current; Core range; Available in select stores in Arkansas and at the distillery |
| The Pack — Piña Colada (RTD) | RTD vodka cocktail | 9 % | Tropical piña colada concept in a can on 10x-distilled vodka. 9% ABV, 12 oz can. | Current; Available in select stores in Arkansas and at the distillery |
| The Pack — Black Cherry (RTD) | RTD vodka cocktail | 9 % | Deep cherry RTD in The Pack line, built on the distillery's 10x-distilled vodka. 9% ABV, 12 oz can. | Current; Available in select stores in Arkansas and at the distillery |
| The Pack — Lemonade (RTD) | RTD vodka cocktail | 9 % | Classic lemonade concept in a can, 9% ABV, 12 oz can; part of The Pack lineup. | Current; Available in select stores in Arkansas and at the distillery |
Whiskies: Style and Flavor Profile
The flavor spectrum ranges from clean, spirit-driven cocktails to fruity and sweeter moonshine varieties. Several The Pack drinks build on ginger and lime (Arkansas Mule), berry blends (Razorberry Splash), and tropical notes like coconut and pineapple (Piña Colada). The moonshine lineup includes fruit notes like apple and peach, as well as more unusual varieties like Maple Bacon and Peanut Butter. Together, the 10x-distilled vodka provides a clean canvas that lets these fresh and full flavors shine.
Visit the Distillery
The distillery offers free tours of about 20 minutes at fixed times weekly; reservations are not required—you can just show up. Tastings are guided and cost $10 for a sampling of moonshine, Arkansas Vodka, and The Pack RTD cocktails. The tasting room has extended hours Friday–Saturday and reduced hours on weekdays; the tasting room's current hours and weekly tour schedule (including specific times Monday, Thursday–Sunday) are published and apply as local visiting policy. The distillery is located at 455 Broadway St and accepts walk-ins; phone contact is available at 501-627-0722.
The stated opening hours are Tasting Room Hours: Monday 12:00–19:00; Thursday 12:00–19:00; Friday 12:00–20:00; Saturday 12:00–20:00; Sunday 13:00–19:00. Tuesday and Wednesday closed.
Philosophy and Craft
Crystal Ridge combines a family-led approach with a technical approach to purity: the raw materials are carefully selected, moonshine flavors are developed to complement the base spirit, and the vodka is distilled through a 10-step process to remove impurities. There is a focus on small-batch craftsmanship, clear flavor balance, and the use of the local Hot Springs water source as part of the product character.
Prices and Recognitions
- #1 Tour & Activity in Hot Springs (#1)